Currently reading: Jeep Recon 4x4 primed for 600bhp EV and hybrid option

Hardcore off-roader to get removable doors and 373-mile range in EV form, but unlikely to be pure-ICE

The Jeep Recon off-roader could be offered with a hybrid powertrain as well as an electric one when it arrives in 2025, according to new brand boss Antonio Filosa.

The Land Rover Defender rival was revealed in concept form as an electric sibling to the fabled Wrangler, which is currently offered with petrol and plug-in hybrid powertrains.

As with the Wrangler, the Recon will be engineered to offer considerable off-road ability and feature removable doors, together with around 600bhp and a range of 373 miles.

The Recon will arrive at a similar time to the Wagoneer S, a luxury flagship with a more road-going focus. Both were previewed as bespoke electric cars based on Stellantis’s STLA Large platform.

In response to the slowdown in growth of EV sales, Jeep recently launched a petrol-engined version of the Avenger electric crossover in the UK.

Fellow Stellantis brand Fiat did the same with the closely related 600 and is said to be developing an ICE powertrain for the currently electric-only 500. Asked whether that slowdown could prompt ICE versions of the Wagoneer S and Recon, Filosa said: “So far, our plan is BEV only.”

Back to top

But he added: “Wagoneer S will stay BEV-only, for sure. But [while] being faithful to our main strategy of deep electrification, we can think about opportunities on Recon. Let’s see: Recon will be built on a platform that is very versatile.”

Filosa said it was unlikely that the Recon would be offered with a pure-petrol engine, hinting that any ICE-equipped model would likely be a hybrid.

He added: “We are just studying [development on the Recon] and just analysing if there are options for the future – but so far it’s BEV.”

Filosa reiterated Stellantis’s commitment to its current electrification strategy, with the goal of electric cars accounting for 100% of sales in Europe, 50% in the US and 20% in South America by 2030.

“We are very versatile in our platforms, and while many of our competitors are only strong in one continent, we are strong in the rest of the world,” he said, highlighting that Brazil – which is focusing on ethanol fuel – is Jeep’s second largest market behind the US.

“To keep our strengths in those regions, we need to invest in other possibilities [than electric], and since we have those investments running, we can adopt them immediately for other regions.

“But our strategy is going 100% electric in Europe. If the political leaders of Europe decide differently, then we will need to adapt, and we will adapt very fast.”

James Attwood

James Attwood, digital editor
Title: Acting magazine editor

James is Autocar's acting magazine editor. Having served in that role since June 2023, he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the world's oldest car magazine, and regularly interviews some of the biggest names in the industry to secure news and features, such as his world exclusive look into production of Volkswagen currywurst. Really.

Before first joining Autocar in 2017, James spent more than a decade in motorsport journalist, working on Autosport, autosport.com, F1 Racing and Motorsport News, covering everything from club rallying to top-level international events. He also spent 18 months running Move Electric, Haymarket's e-mobility title, where he developed knowledge of the e-bike and e-scooter markets. 

Join the debate

Comments
2
Add a comment…
ianp55 29 April 2024

Seen the Jeep Recon before as a concept and it's interesting to have further details of the production version, just wondered if 600hp is perhaps a bit excessive even for a "Trail Rated" off road SUV and is it likely that the range of 373 miles be achieved in practice in the wild?   

jason_recliner 30 April 2024
ianp55 wrote:

Seen the Jeep Recon before as a concept and it's interesting to have further details of the production version, just wondered if 600hp is perhaps a bit excessive even for a "Trail Rated" off road SUV and is it likely that the range of 373 miles be achieved in practice in the wild?   

Would you prefer to have less power?

The very impressive 600km will not be achievable offroad, and will rarely be achieved even in a mix of city and highway driving (like all laboratory tested ranges).